While You Sleep
by Jennifer Maruno (Author), Miki Sato (Illustrations)
When a little girl goes to bed, her stuffed bunnies have a lot of work to do during the evening! They have to comb the grass, sprinkle dust on the butterflies, and paint the flowers to be ready for the next day. The bunnies are busy charging up the rainbows so they can glow, and making new bubbles on the ocean floor. All the while, the little girl is dreaming.
This beautiful book is enchanting! The story sweeps you away into a magical land of dreams as the bunnies stitch up the clouds, polish the sun, and embroider the Milky Way with stars.
The collage art is absolutely stunning! I had to stop and stare at each page, looking for all the little details of stitching and beadwork and fabric and watercolors. This artist, Miki Sato, is quickly becoming one of my favorite artists. I’ve read several of their books now, and every single page just blows me away. Something about this art is so gentle; perfect for a bedtime book.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Let’s Add Up!
by Victoria Allenby, Maggie Zeng (Illustrator)
Children add up items to equal ten, but there is always a little something more beyond just counting. “5 drums + 5 tambourines = 10 instruments…. or a band!” As the children add up all the different ways you can make ten, they learn that using those items brings them closer together as they play, cook, race, and dance together. Whether it is 6+4 or 7+3 or 9+1, having fun together always add up to friendship!
This is such a cute book! It really makes it fun to learn addition and see what the children will do with each type of item. They put on a play with costumes. They have a feast with all the good food they have cooked, and they have a race with their toy cars! It makes learning addition easy because each page is such a clear visual representation of the arithmetic that is happening.
I loved the adorable illustrations, and I really appreciated that the children on each page are from diverse ethnicities and abilities. I love the sweet smiles on all their faces, and the way each child is included in their fun activities.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Windy Days
by Deborah Kerbel (Author), Miki Sato (Illustrator)
Children play in the wind on a blustery day, from the gentle winds of spring to the freezing blast of winter. The wind makes the pinwheels twirl, helps the children to fly kites, and spins the power turbines. The wind steals a little girl’s witch hat at Halloween. The wind swirls the falling leaves while children jump in a pile of leaves. The wind makes a branch tap on the window during a storm.
The collage art style is absolutely phenomenal. The artist, Miki Sato, is quickly becoming one of my favorite artists! Every page is so beautiful! I love that you can see the different layers in the artwork. You can almost feel the texture of the tissue paper, cardboard, and fabric on the page. There are so many tiny details in each scene that I could spend several minutes looking at each page. I am literally in awe of this gorgeous art!
The text is simple, but enchanting. The story is told in rhyming couplets for each page, and it brings me back to a simpler time in childhood. I was so delighted with the polished style of this story. The text flows along naturally, and is a delight to read out loud!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Ballewiena
by Rebecca Bender (Goodreads Author)
5 out of 5 stars
Dotty the dog dreams of being a ballerina, but her owner sends her to obedience school to learn to sit and stay. It will take a special trainer to help Dotty learn the discipline she needs for dancing. But how will Dotty get everyone to recognize her talents?
This is such a cute story! I loved the pretty art style, and all the sweet characters! The story uses all the popular French ballet terms, and there are pronunciation guides on the end papers.
Dotty is adorable, and I really liked that she had to work hard to accomplish her goals. She practices and puts in the effort, and she is rewarded with enhanced skills and a greater enjoyment of ballet. Such a great message for kids to help them see that really great accomplishments require effort and consistent practice.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Each dinosaur shows their personality through the car they drive. The triceratops has a motorcycle, and they travel in groups. Iguanodon is a vegetarian, so they prefer an electric car. Velociraptor is small enough for a mini car. T-Rex drives a monster truck!
This is such a fun book! It’s cool to imagine what the dinosaurs would drive based on their size and the characteristics we know about them. I like that the text is simple, but it really sparks your imagination!
The illustrations are adorable, and I loved the cute designs for each dinosaur character. Their cars have bumper stickers and cool paint jobs. Every page has something new and interesting!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Luminous Libro 